Patrick Scanlon, a 42‑year‑old former paratrooper and Legionnaire, was found to have PTSD when he stole a €25 Buddha‑style garden statue from a hardware shop in Finglas, Dublin. He had been walking past the shop when he saw the statue on the ground and picked it up. The next day Garda Niamh Corrigan stopped him on Wellmount Avenue after spotting a sharp knife in his pocket and arrested him for unlawful possession of a knife. Scanlon admitted the statue was stolen and pleaded guilty to theft from James Malone at Finglas DIY on 17 February 2019. He had 27 prior convictions, most of them thefts from 2019. His defence lawyer, Mark Lynam, argued that Scanlon was out of control and self‑medicating, and that he was now dealing with PTSD with social services.
Daniel Delaney, 27, of Mariner's Port, Sheriff Street, was convicted of three burglaries in 2017 – at the Clonsilla Inn, Siam Thai and Monkstown Rugby Club – and received an eight‑year sentence with the final year suspended. Two of the offences were committed while he was on bail, prompting the judge to impose consecutive sentences. Delaney appealed against the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal upheld the decision, stating the Circuit Court judge was fully justified in imposing consecutive sentences. The Court noted the aggravating factors, including confrontations with occupants, night‑time burglaries, significant property damage and theft, and the planning involved. The suspended year was a discount, and the Court confirmed the overall sentence was not excessively severe. The appeal was dismissed. Daniel Delaney pleaded guilty.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC opened the case, alleging that a gang of four raiders targeted the Garda escort for a "base criminal motive" driven by money. He stated that one raider allegedly shot Det Gda Donohoe in the face with a shotgun, killing him instantly, while another threatened Det Gda Joe Ryan with a handgun. The prosecution contends the operation was highly organized, with the getaway car later found burnt out in South Armagh. Grehan argued that Brady was under financial pressure and allegedly lied about his whereabouts. Evidence will include CCTV, mobile phone data showing a "telecommunications blackout" during the incident, and conversations Brady allegedly had after moving to New York. The jury of 15 is hearing the prosecution's case, which relies on circumstantial evidence to link Brady to the crime. The trial continues.
Mareks Treinovskis, 34, was found guilty of stealing electric toothbrushes from Boots on Grafton Street on 29 June and 22 July 2019. He had previously been convicted of the same offence at the same store, with nine earlier convictions for the same thefts. The Garda identified him via CCTV footage and he was released on bail. In June 2018 he received a nine‑month sentence for nine thefts of electric toothbrushes from the same shop. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, noted that the offences were not particularly serious in isolation but were "very concerning" given the repeat nature. She sentenced him to six months for the earlier theft and 12 months for the later theft, to run consecutively, and then suspended the entire 12‑month sentence on strict conditions, including a prohibition on entering any Boots store in Dublin for 12 months.
Three newly sworn jurors for Aaron Brady's capital murder trial have declared they cannot serve. Mr Justice Michael White instructed the jury of eight men and seven women to elect a foreman before the trial's opening. Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Louth, and also to a robbery charge of about €7,000 at the same place and time. The trial continues.
Clive Kavanagh, 37, was found guilty of possessing €829,265 in cash at Tougher's Garage, Naas, on 1 September 2017, believing it to be proceeds of crime. He was sentenced by Naas Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on 4 July 2019. The Court of Appeal upheld this sentence, rejecting the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that it was unduly lenient. The judge noted that Kavanagh was not the owner of the money and that the case involved theft. He had a history of self‑employment in construction and eight prior minor traffic convictions, plus a suspended sentence for drug possession. The suspended portion was justified to aid his family, who depend on him, and to encourage rehabilitation. The appeal was dismissed.
Ben O'Reilly, a 21‑year‑old former youth rugby player, was convicted of assaulting Fernanda de Freitas, a transgender escort, at her home on 20 May 2017. The trial, held in December 2019 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, found him guilty of assault but acquitted him of robbery. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition he pays €10,000 in compensation to Ms de Freitas within 12 months. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence, the loss of support from family and friends, his suspension from the rugby club, and his good character and youth as mitigating factors. O'Reilly had no prior convictions and had been enlisted in the UK army, where a custodial sentence would have led to discharge. The case involved a dispute over payment for escort services, an initial payment of €150, and a subsequent assault after the victim demanded the remainder of the agreed €500. Ben O'Reilly pleaded not guilty.
In a north Dublin retail park, a Starbucks coffee shop was forced to close after a series of break‑ins. The court heard that the shop could not renew its insurance because of multiple robbery and burglary incidents. The business shut down in July. Earlier, Jason Brady, 34, used a claw hammer to break into the shop, causing over €1,300 of damage. Brady pleaded guilty to burglary of the Starbucks and of the adjoining "Star Buys" discount shop on the night of 22 June 2019, and admitted criminal damage and possession of a claw hammer. He was not a suspect in other raids. Brady's lawyers said he had smoked crack cocaine before the burglaries and that he was committing crimes to feed an "out of control" drug habit. CCTV footage showed him using a crowbar to try to open a staff toilet and later pulling the disabled toilet alarm off the wall.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Jabari Crichlow was given a four‑year suspended sentence for violently attacking and robbing a 66‑year‑old retired delivery man on Deerhaven Avenue, Clonee, in November 2017. The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion, chipped teeth, and ongoing headaches and fear of further attacks. Crichlow pleaded guilty to robbery and was previously placed on a 12‑month probation bond. After a favourable probation report showing no significant attention and re‑establishment of a good relationship with his mother, Judge Melanie Greally suspended the sentence on strict conditions: cessation of association with negative peers and 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The court noted the victim's loss of over €1,000 in income and the physical and psychological impact of the assault. The case was adjourned twice before the final suspended sentence was imposed.
Mohammed Nasser Mohiuddin, a 48‑year‑old Dublin shopkeeper, was jailed for allowing his bank account to be used in a €200,000 fraud. He claimed he was promised €10,000 to let the money be transferred into his account, but never received the payment. The fraud involved an "invoice redirect" scheme by Enercon GMBH, a wind turbine manufacturer, where five payments totalling just over €202,000 were sent to Mohiuddin's account between February and March 2017. He pleaded guilty to five charges of handling stolen cash. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as a significant error of judgment, noting his family responsibilities and business difficulties. Mohiuddin was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted the financial pressure that led him to participate in the scheme.
Paul Crosby, 24, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was released on bail by the High Court on 24 May last year after being charged with possession of a stolen silver Yamaha motorcycle on 21 November 2019 and possession of a stolen Volkswagen Polo on 10 May 2019, as well as arson for setting the Polo on fire at Yellowbatter Drogheda on the same day. Since his release, Garda Donal Clarke reported several alleged breaches of his bail conditions. On 16 January, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody at Beechwood Drive, Drogheda, at 19:01 on Sunday. The warrant was executed at the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Michael White remanded him to Cloverhill. Crosby's solicitor, Lily Buckley BL, expressed that her client was anxious to address the court himself and wished to give evidence regarding the context of the matters.
Yasmin Stephens, aged 24, was sentenced to one year in prison for a knifepoint robbery that took place on 12 October 2017 on Lower Drumcondra Road. She was convicted by a jury after a trial in November 2017. The robbery involved a woman who was walking to a friend's house when Stephens grabbed her arm, demanded her phone and threatened to stab her. The victim refused to hand over the phone and offered money instead. Stephens then took the victim's arm, went to a Bank of Ireland branch and a Centra store, and forced the victim to withdraw €100, which she handed to Stephens. CCTV footage identified Stephens and led to her arrest. During the Garda interview, Stephens claimed the money had been handed to her and that the victim had hugged her, but CCTV did not show any hugging. The victim suffered no physical injuries but reported feeling unsafe walking alone and found the court process stressful.
Anthony Rossitter, a 32‑year‑old drug addict from Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to three attempted robbery charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 15 May 2019, he entered a Gala shop on Abbey Street at about 9 a.m., placed a plastic bag on the counter, and threatened a cashier with a large stainless‑steel pair of scissors, demanding cash. When a staff member said no cash was available, Rossitter left. He then went to a Spar shop in Temple Bar and demanded money, but again departed empty‑handed. Finally, he entered a Gala shop on Dorset Street, showed the scissors, and asked for €20 after staff explained their boss had taken all the cash. He left without any money and was arrested shortly thereafter. Rossitter has prior convictions for assault, drug dealing and two robberies, and 46 traffic offences. He is homeless and has a young child.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old Bruno De Melo pleaded guilty to two robberies. On 10 June 2019 he and an accomplice entered Mr Syed Shah's phone shop on Phibsboro Road, threatened him with a knife, and stole 53 mobile phones, iPads and tablets worth €14,300. Mr Shah, who was not insured, described the raid as a "last day of my life" and said the loss shattered his future plans. Two weeks earlier, on 29 May 2019, De Melo had robbed a €6,500 Rolex Submariner from Mr David O'Gorman at a Glasnevin service station, demanding the watch with a knife. The watch was never recovered. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded De Melo in custody and adjourned sentencing to 3 February 2020. The court heard that De Melo had no prior Irish convictions but had UK convictions for robbery, burglary and false representations.
An asylum seeker, Mohamed Morei, aged 21 and originally from Egypt, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 24‑year‑old Yosuke Sasaki, whom he stabbed on 3 January 2018 in Dundalk. Morei also assaulted two men that morning, causing a head wound that required stitches, and was charged with criminal damage to a car and robbery by trespassing. A jury returned the same not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict on those charges. During the trial, Morei claimed he was "fighting for Isis" and stabbed Sasaki "for God", but a detective inspector described his statements as incoherent and found no evidence of terrorist links. Two consultant psychiatrists diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he was unaware his actions were wrong and could not refrain from them. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, where his detention will be reviewed every six months under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act.
Ross Kelly Nolan, a 23‑year‑old bank worker, was convicted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €11,830 in damaged cash notes that were scheduled for destruction. The notes were identified as unfit by the bank's high‑speed counter and were to be sent to the Central Bank for destruction. Nolan, employed through an agency, admitted to the theft, citing a gambling addiction as the motive. He had been placing online bets daily and claimed he saw an opportunity to steal the cash. He has since paid back €8,110 to the bank and has reportedly turned his life around, avoiding gambling and office lottery tickets. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his lack of prior convictions and his rehabilitation, imposed a suspended prison sentence of one year, describing the offence as a significant breach of trust but a result of a pernicious addiction. Ross Kelly Nolan pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Connolly, a 38‑year‑old general manager of IMC Cinema in Santry, admitted stealing €217,203 from his employer between April 2016 and July 2018. Connolly claimed he was heavily drinking and suffering mental health issues, and that he had intended to return the money. He said the thefts were largely used to fund gambling, mainly on the lotto, and that at one point he was one number away from winning €250,000. Connolly had both keys to the cinema's main safe after a security provider change in 2016, giving him access to the takings. The cinema's directors discovered a shortfall in May 2018, prompting a Garda investigation. Connolly pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and the judge adjourned sentencing, remanding him on continuing bail until 28 February 2020 for psychiatric and probation reports.
Liam Butterly, 26, of Whiteacre Place, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment and dangerous driving for driving a stolen motorbike at high speed, in the wrong direction around a roundabout, and through red lights on 20 January 2017. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Butterly, who has 53 prior convictions, became agitated after sentencing, telling the judge that people who kill people get three years in jail and that he has two small children and that the incident occurred a week before Christmas. He apologized and said he only wanted the judge to know about his children.
Gerard Kane, 43, a convicted rapist and serial burglar, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment in December 2019 for two break‑ins committed after his release in August 2018. Kane had previously received a 12‑year sentence in 2012 for raping a woman after breaking into her home, with the final three years suspended. He was released on bail for burglary at the constituency office of former Fianna Fáil Minister Barry Andrews. In the 2019 case, Kane pleaded guilty to burglary at Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, burglary at Silchester Crescent, Glenageary, and handling stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for 12 months post‑release. The court noted Kane's psychological problems but also his awareness of right and wrong.
In a 2018 incident on Phibsborough Road, 28‑year‑old Gary Gibson attempted to steal a bicycle and, when confronted by retired RTÉ broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille, struck him on the head with a bolt cutter. Gibson fled, jumping into a canal to evade capture, and was later apprehended after a ten‑minute standoff. He pleaded guilty to assault and attempted theft, and to possession of a Stanley knife. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. Gibson's prior convictions include burglary, firearms offences and public order matters. The assault left Mac Coille with a lump and bruise on his forehead, forcing a three‑week break from a programme about the Pope's visit and a €125 expense for new bicycle wheels and a lock. The case highlighted the impact of the assault on Mac Coille's broadcasting work.
Martin Clarke, 35, a former soldier, was sentenced to three years in prison for a random knife attack on Welsh tourist Antoni Vitti on the Liffey boardwalk on 13 June 2017. Clarke was intoxicated on unprescribed tablets when he lunged at Vitti with a knife. Vitti and his husband fled, but Clarke chased them through traffic and was eventually stopped at the Arlington Hotel, where staff removed him and raised the alarm. The court described the assault as "random, unprovoked and menacing." Vitti sustained a 3.5‑cm scar on his hand and reported that the incident has made him feel unsafe around strangers, affecting his work in the tourist industry. Clarke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a knife, and had prior convictions for theft, knife possession and traffic offences. He has detoxed in custody and expressed remorse, hoping to return to his family in a sober state.
A 40‑year‑old woman, Ennis Dunne, pleaded guilty to five robbery offences against pharmacies and a hair salon in Dublin between April 2018 and June 2019. She stole €1,760 in cash and recovered tablets worth €300, which were seized by Gardaí. Dunne threatened staff with a scissors, a broken bottle and a syringe during the robberies. She has 58 prior convictions and a long history of drug addiction. Her barrister described her upbringing in a family that introduced heroin to Ireland, noting that she was taken into State care at six after her parents were imprisoned and later reunited with her mother at ten. Dunne has a child, is currently in university, and has been diagnosed with PTSD. The sentence is scheduled for April 21, with a possible additional charge pending. The court adjourned the sentencing to obtain psychological and probation reports. The case was prosecuted by Caroline Cummings BL.
Ricardo Correia, aged 34, used 48 legitimate prepaid Mastercards to create "compromised" cards and spent €6,988 at TX Maxx outlets between November 2018 and April 2019. He returned 52 items, obtaining €6,512 in refunds credited to his own bank cards, claiming he received 30 % of the €13,500 raised. He pleaded guilty to theft, use of false instruments, possession of false instruments and money laundering. With 20 prior convictions, Judge Karen O'Connor found the crime premeditated and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. Correia was arrested in June 2019 after CCTV footage identified him; his home was searched and three false prepaid cards were seized. He admitted using the cards to purchase goods and return them for refunds, citing debt repayment. His defence highlighted his qualifications and expressed remorse.
Ben O'Reilly, 21, was found guilty of assaulting Fernanda de Freitas after a dispute over payment for an escort service. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, concluded with a jury of ten women and two men convicting him of assault but acquitting him of robbery. O'Reilly had been charged with robbing de Freitas of cash and her iPhone. He was remanded on continuing bail until January 24 for sentencing. The case involved a series of messages on Grindr and WhatsApp, a meeting at de Freitas's apartment, and an alleged exchange over money. De Freitas testified that O'Reilly punched her multiple times, put his hands around her neck, and took her phone. She sustained cuts to her mouth and swollen eyes, requiring stitches. O'Reilly admitted to grabbing what he thought was his phone but later realised he had taken de Freitas's mobile. The trial ended with the assault conviction and the robbery charge dismissed. Ben O'Reilly pleaded not guilty.
Peter Kane, 49, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after a Gardaí search of his Dublin bedsit revealed over €200,000 worth of drugs. The drugs, including cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin, were found under his bed with weighing scales. Kane had previously been clean from heroin and on methadone, and had not had any Gardaí trouble for seven years. He claimed he was offered free cocaine in a local pub and was then pressured to store drugs for others, owing money for them. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin at his Decies Road home on 13 May 2019. The court noted his 16 prior convictions, including robbery, forgery, road traffic and begging, and his explanation that he was holding the drugs for others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged his difficult life and children in England before imposing the five‑year term. The Gardaí had obtained confidential information that led to the search.
A man has been sentenced to eleven years imprisonment following a hammer attack on a shopkeeper in Dublin in March 2017. John McKeon, aged 31 and with an address in Strokestown, County Longford, was convicted by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing serious harm. He and his cousin targeted Tansey's Newsagent on Fitzmaurice Road, Finglas, where McKeon struck the shopkeeper three times to the head with a claw hammer, causing severe traumatic brain injury. The victim, who remains in recovery, was the sole carer for his blind wife and three children. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a sentence of twelve-and-a-half years with the final eighteen months suspended. McKeon's cousin, Daryl McKeon, was previously jailed for seven years in connection with the same incident. Daryl McKeon pleaded guilty.
In a Dundalk murder trial, Mohamed Morei, a 21‑year‑old asylum seeker, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing 24‑year‑old Yosuke Sasaki to death on 3 January 2018. The jury also returned not‑guilty verdicts for assaulting two men, criminal damage to a car and robbery by trespassing between 2 and 3 January. The case was heard over three days, with psychiatrists describing Morei as suffering from acute paranoid schizophrenia and lacking awareness of the wrongfulness of his actions. Morei was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital and will appear again on 20 December to discuss his ongoing treatment. The Sasaki family, including sister Shiori and father Akifusa, expressed profound grief and frustration at the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Carl McGuinness, 24, was jailed for six years after a high‑speed pursuit in a stolen taxi that ended with a collision with a lamp post. While driving the van at dangerous speeds, he knocked a cyclist, James Byrne, onto the bonnet and threw him into the air, breaking Byrne's leg in two places. The incident also injured a woman, Carol Lacey, who was struck by the van. McGuinness pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, four counts of property damage, car theft, and driving without insurance or a licence. He admitted an addiction to heroin and crack cocaine and a difficult upbringing. The court disqualified him from driving for six years and imposed the prison term back‑dated to last July. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has acquitted Patrick Carroll on all charges relating to a €90,000 post office robbery in September 2014. The 54-year-old from Swords had pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and threats to kill in connection with an incident at a property in Malahide and Bayside Post Office in Sutton. During the eight-week trial, the prosecution alleged that DNA evidence linked Carroll to the crime, but his legal team submitted there was an innocent explanation for its presence. Following deliberations lasting over eleven hours, a jury of four men and eight women returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. Paschal Kelly, a 54-year-old with addresses in Cootehill and Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, was previously convicted of the robbery and kidnapping and received an eighteen-year sentence in late 2018.
John Downes, 58, of Cabinteely, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for defrauding the Revenue Commissioners of €160,000 in VAT between 2007 and 2011. He made false invoices and claimed VAT refunds that his company, Premier Print and Label Ltd, was not entitled to, and also charged customers VAT that he did not remit. Downes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the judge noted the interest added by Revenue, totalling another €160,000, but based the sentence on the original amount defrauded. The judge cited Downes' guilty plea, cooperation, work history and community contributions as mitigating factors, yet stressed the seriousness of the offences. Downes had prior convictions for theft from Marks & Spencer and had previously received a suspended sentence in 2018. The court did not order restitution of the money, leaving that matter to Downes and the Revenue.
Stephen Whelan, 36, was jailed after admitting to robbing a man in Rathmines while cycling through a red light. Garda Joseph Heaphy had stopped Whelan for reckless cycling and observed him throw a phone under a car. When questioned, Whelan confessed that he had robbed the victim, who handed over his phone and wallet, to satisfy a drug debt. He had 68 prior convictions and pleaded guilty to robbery and knife possession. Judge Martin Nolan noted Whelan's open admission and remorse, but also his need for quick money. He imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final 14 months. The court considered Whelan's desire to reform and the fact that the crime was discovered because of the Garda's intervention. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 5 December 2019.
In March 2019 a robbery at Fernwood Avenue, Tallaght, involved Alan McHugh (39) and two accomplices who targeted Wojciech Gajoch, who was selling a 14‑carat gold necklace. The men approached Gajoch, one holding a knife, and surrounded him. Gajoch was struck on the head, and the men fled after taking the keys. McHugh pursued, brandishing the knife and threatening Gajoch, who managed to seize the knife and bring McHugh to the ground. The accomplices then drove a car at the two men, running over McHugh's foot. The car left without McHugh, and the necklace was never recovered. McHugh pleaded guilty to robbery, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended, and was released on strict conditions. The case highlighted the violent nature of the robbery and the failure to recover the stolen necklace.
In a 2019 incident at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, two brothers, Peter Collins (26) and Jason Collins (18), attacked a 60‑year‑old taxi driver, Mark Henshaw, and attempted to hijack his vehicle. Peter strangled Henshaw with a phone charger cable, while Jason punched the driver and searched his pockets. The pair failed to start the car and stole a €50 note and an iPhone. Henshaw suffered a small brain bleed, a nasal bone fracture and a swollen right eye. Both pleaded guilty to robbery, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Peter to four and a half years' imprisonment and Jason to three and a half years, suspending the final 12 months of Jason's term on strict conditions. The court noted the attempt was "a pretty incompetent effort" and the attack "reprehensible.".
Lewis Larkin (33) was sentenced to seven years with the final 18 months suspended for his role in robbing, falsely imprisoning, and attacking three 15-year-old boys at Fairview Park on June 27, 2018. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as 'terrifying' for the victims and noted Larkin's 111 previous convictions and intoxication at the time. Craig Douglas (18) was sentenced to three years with the final 20 months suspended. Judge Nolan called the case 'lamentable' and expressed regret over the custodial sentence for Douglas, citing his youth, but noted the 'particularly vicious' nature of the attacks. Both Larkin and Douglas pleaded guilty to three charges of robbery, three charges of false imprisonment, and two charges of assault causing harm to the teenagers. Larkin also admitted to the theft of eight bicycles valued at €6,285. Garda Kevin Murphy stated that the boys were threatened, forced to walk with the accused, and subjected to intimidation and physical violence. The victims were walked around the area to withdraw cash from their bank accounts and were later attacked in a laneway. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read out. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Robert Hedderman was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for the 2016 burglary of a single mother's home in Kinsealy. Hedderman broke into the house on Christmas Day, ripped furniture, placed an Xbox and a DVD player in a sink full of water, urinated throughout the premises and scattered ash. He also left the house covered in urine and caused significant damage, amounting to many thousands of euros. The victim, who was renting the house with her children, was left homeless for a month and lost numerous personal items. Hedderman pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He has 47 prior convictions, including burglaries, theft and knife possession. The judge described his actions as gratuitous and without any earthly reason. The case was prosecuted by Garda Elva Duffy BL and defended by Emer Ni Chuagain BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dean Fitzsimons, aged 19, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for multiple firearm offences, including possession of a semi‑automatic pistol, a silencer and seven rounds of ammunition on Waterford Road, Blanchardstown, on 28 May, and for being a passenger in a stolen car on 23 June. His father, Kenneth Fitzsimons, aged 39, received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for two counts of firearm possession, dangerous driving, driving a stolen car and resisting arrest, all committed on 23 June. The court noted that Kenneth had been stabbed earlier that year by individuals threatening Dean, and that he had driven a stolen vehicle at high speed, narrowly missing a Garda, before being stopped and arrested. Both men were arrested and have remained in custody since. Dean has a one‑year‑old child and five prior convictions; Kenneth has two other children, including a newborn, and one prior larceny conviction. Dean Fitzsimons pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Treacy, 36, was sentenced to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for making a false emergency call about a gangland shooting at Peadar Kearney House, Railway Street. Treacy claimed a gangland member had been shot and a black Toyota Avensis had fled the scene, prompting eleven Garda units, a fire brigade truck and an ambulance to respond for 24 minutes before the operation was called off. He later admitted the call was a "moment of madness" while he was "completely wasted" on tablets and vodka. Treacy, who has been clean of heroin for two years and now helps others recover from addiction, pleaded guilty to the false report. The judge noted the diversion of Garda resources and commended his rehabilitation efforts, suspending the sentence on a number of conditions. Treacy has 40 prior convictions, including theft, road traffic and drug offences.
Mark Boyle, a 50‑year‑old lending agent for Provident Personal Credit Limit, left €4,500 of company cash in his car, which was stolen. He did not inform his employer and instead secured loans in the names of family and friends to repay the company, promising to repay the loans himself. Boyle's repayments became difficult, leading him to borrow further. Provident, suspicious of the loans, confronted Boyle, who confessed. Boyle pleaded guilty to one charge of theft and one of fraud, covering 20 incidents between August 2015 and January 2016. He repaid over €8,000, leaving a balance of €10,600, which he handed to his solicitor for Provident. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Boyle's full repayment and lack of prior convictions, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition that the €10,600 be handed over to Provident.
Yasmin Stephens, aged 24, was convicted by a jury of robbing a woman on Lower Drumcondra Road on 12 October 2017. The robbery involved a knife threat and the victim was forced to hand over €100. Stephens, who has 13 prior convictions including robbery, does not accept the verdict. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 17 January 2020. Garda evidence included CCTV footage identifying Stephens and testimony that the victim was not physically harmed. Stephens claimed the money was given to her and that the victim had hugged her, but CCTV did not show this. The victim reported psychological distress and changes in her routine following the incident. The case highlights the court's focus on the robbery and the defendant's background of drug addiction and trauma.
A robbery of a handbag from a woman's convertible car on a summer day was identified by a cyclist who captured photographs of the suspect, Mark Dwyer, 42, using his camera's zoom. Dwyer, who had 112 prior convictions and had just been released from prison, pleaded guilty to the robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan noted Dwyer had spotted an opportunity when the car's roof was down and that a "good Samaritan" had witnessed the crime. The judge imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence, taking into account Dwyer's guilty plea but also his extensive criminal record. The woman was left shaken, and the cyclist's images helped identify Dwyer, who admitted he could not remember the incident and expressed remorse. The defence highlighted his long history of custody and efforts to address drug addiction. The court was asked to be lenient.
Jason Russell, 37, was jailed for two years after submitting fraudulent monthly time sheets to Cheeverstown House between 2014 and 2017, receiving about €80,000. Gardai discovered the fraud in 2017 while Russell worked as a delivery driver, finding 12 undelivered boxes of clothes worth €5,000. Russell pleaded guilty to theft and submitting false time sheets, and to stealing clothing in October–November 2017. Judge Martin Nolan noted Russell's guilty plea, cooperation and lack of likelihood of re‑offending, but also his brazen defrauding with malice, forethought and planning. He was sentenced to three years, with the final year suspended, and ordered to surrender €10,000 to the garda for transmission to Cheeverstown House. Russell had one prior road‑traffic conviction and had been attending counselling for gambling issues. The court heard that Russell's family was under financial strain at the time of the offences.
Sean O'Neill, a 72‑year‑old liquidator from Wicklow, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €28,530 that had been transferred into his bank account by the Department of Social Protection under the insolvency payment scheme. The money was owed to a former employee of a Galway restaurant that had gone into liquidation. O'Neill had transferred €15,000 to the employee but never passed on the remaining balance. He was charged in July and, after a guilty plea and cooperation, brought €18,000 to court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the breach of trust and O'Neill's lack of prior convictions, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, suspending all but the final five months. He ordered the €18,000 to be paid to the relevant party. The case highlights the duty of liquidators to act honestly and the consequences of failing to do so.
Emer Roche, aged 46, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five fraud and forgery offences committed between July and December 2014. She forged approval letters for the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) and used a computer to facilitate the fraud, stealing €500 and forging documents on multiple dates. Roche had three prior theft convictions. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offences and Roche's prior record, imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended for three years under strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. Roche had repaid €9,000 in full and had shown remorse, early cooperation, sobriety and repayment of the loss. The case involved a potential public health risk as forged letters enabled unqualified physiotherapists to practice. The ISCP had refunded applicants' fees, and Roche's actions caused a €9,000 loss to the society. The court noted her previous short‑term contract with the ISCP and her admission of the fraud to Gardaí.
Rose Mulenga, a 47‑year‑old former Turkish Airlines employee, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €16,702 from the airline's compensation system between 5 June and 5 September 2017. She accessed the company's database to locate unclaimed compensation vouchers, then transferred the money to her mother in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was battling cancer. Mulenga resigned shortly after the theft and admitted that she believed the refunds were unlikely to be claimed. She also claimed that she was in arrears with Dublin City Council because her ex‑husband had failed to pay rent, and that her brother had refused to help her. The prosecution noted that she had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, which was fully suspended, and noted that Mulenga had repaid some of the stolen funds. The sentence was therefore suspended in its entirety, with no custodial term imposed.
Robert McCabe, aged 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven burglaries committed between 11 November and 21 December 2018, targeting six commercial premises, including a restaurant twice. He admitted stealing €2,170, a computer tablet, and other items, and was found with burglary tools and cash. McCabe's defence counsel, Emmet Nolan, described him as a "gentleman burglar" with a lifelong heroin addiction that motivated the offences. Judge Martin Nolan noted McCabe's extensive criminal record of 123 convictions, 54 for burglary, and his inability to stop. He accepted McCabe's guilty pleas, cooperation, and efforts to leave heroin, and sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment. The court highlighted that McCabe's primary motive was to obtain funds for heroin. The judge also acknowledged the defendant's ongoing methadone programme and employment since remand.
During a Garda search for another matter, 857 grams of cannabis worth €17,148 were found under the bed of Anthony McNamee, 33, in his bedroom at Mercer House, Mercer Street, Dublin. McNamee pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply. He had a prior conviction for attempted robbery in 2005 but no history of drug dealing. The court, noting the old robbery conviction and lack of further offences, imposed a three‑year sentence but suspended it under conditions.
A 46-year-old man from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, has been imprisoned for 14 months following a conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €3,300 from a vulnerable woman. Michael McGauley pleaded guilty to two counts of theft committed in October 2018, when he defrauded the woman by falsely promising to carry out insulation work on her home and to invest money on her behalf. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year sentence with the final 22 months suspended on condition that McGauley repay the full stolen amount, which he has already begun doing. The court heard McGauley was struggling with gambling addiction and outstanding debts at the time of the offences. He has 25 previous convictions, including five for theft, and was on probation when the crimes occurred. His defence counsel indicated McGauley has since sought treatment through Gamblers Anonymous and has secured employment while making regular repayments to his victim.
Terence Gavin, 27, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to stealing €320 from taxi driver Imram Shahzad on 4 August 2016. Gavin was driven home by Shahzad that night and was asked to pay his fare before a group of teenage boys attacked the driver. While the assault was underway, Gavin took the driver's wallet and fled. CCTV footage identified him at the pub where Shahzad had been picked up. The teenagers were never identified. Gavin, a flooring contractor, paid €5,620 to Shahzad as a token of remorse and to cover the stolen money and windscreen damage. He has 12 prior convictions, including theft, traffic offences and threatening to cause serious harm. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced Gavin on the theft charge, not the assault, and suspended the sentence on conditions including restitution to Shahzad.
Richard Bourke, aged 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison for arson after setting fire to the front door of Detective Garda John Griffin's house in Finglas. The incident occurred on 26 February 2019, when Bourke first lit a small flame and then threw petrol, creating a fireball that forced the Griffins to call 999. The attack caused smoke damage to the hall and required the front door to be replaced. Bourke pleaded guilty to two counts of arson at two Finglas locations and to stealing petrol from a Circle K station. He also admitted setting fire to a derelict building near the airport. The court noted premeditation, the occupied nature of the house, and Bourke's history of bipolar disorder and drug abuse. The sentence was 11 years with the final three years suspended, resulting in an eight‑year custodial term. The Griffins suffered an "indelible scar" and increased security measures following the attack.
In November 2019, Brian Johnston, a 32‑year‑old with 205 prior convictions, was jailed for 15 months after making a hoax 999 call claiming a shooting at a pub on Cappagh Road, Finglas. The call diverted Gardaí, an armed support unit, two fire brigade vehicles and an ambulance from an attempt to remove him from his ex‑partner's home. Johnston had been released from prison shortly before the incident and was homeless, living in a car that was seized. He pleaded guilty to the false report, to stealing a car battery, to producing a hammer while appearing to commit an offence, and to driving without a licence or insurance. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as a "reprehensible crime of desperation" and imposed concurrent sentences totalling 15 months. The case involved the Gardaí's attempt to breach the property, the diversion caused by the hoax call, and the subsequent arrest of Johnston at 4 a.m.